Beautiful pics. Prairiemoon, we seem to be the two 'night-owls' here on the forum. What wonderful delphiniums! Can you tell me the name of the pink one? That is so lovely. I tired to WS them this year and had no luck, and my 2 Nigella died before I could plant them out. Looking forward to my asclepias blooms next year - a couple of Monarch caterpillars are already doing their damage on two of my seedlings.

LOL...I didn't expect to get such a quick response at this hour! Thanks very much, I am glad you enjoyed them. :-)
The delphiniums are both the Dodswell varieties from New Zealand. They are supposed to be more mildew resistant than others. These didn't actually have a name per se. They just were part of a seed packet that was offered according to color. They do have one called Dusky Maidens I think? It has that pink hue. The seed were expensive. I winter sowed more delphiniums this year and they didn't germinate either and I tried seeds from three different sources, so I don't think it was the seed. Another mystery. [g] Sorry about your Nigella. They do seem to be a little delicate. I haven't seen any butterflies this year so far. My Butterfly bush is just starting to open so that should do the trick.

:-)

Wow, beautiful delphiniums! How tall are they?

Karen

Karen, the blue is 6ft tall and the pink are 5.5ft tall. I hope to grow more. They did not germinate well at all. I ended up with only 4 plants out of a whole seed pkt. The blue one was gorgeous for a week and then it rained hard and it snapped off the bloom. So I am not sure I will get seed from the little side shoot that is still on it. Next year, taller stakes. :-) I didn't think you were supposed to stake them right up to the tip.

How beautiful! Delphinium never grew for me. I managed to kill the bought plants too.

I like your pictures. They are gorgeous. What's that little Pansy? Really cute. Did you WS that this winter?

Prairiemoon,
I'm so jealous...Reseeded Calendula!!!
Beautiful pictures. I just love flowers...

Linda

Hi pitimpinai.. :-)

I hear you about growing the Delphiniums. I just love them though. I had one plant that I bought about 5 yrs ago and it was so gorgeous, I was hooked. What was even better, my DH loved them. It only lasted that first year, because it had such bad mildew that I pulled it. That is why I was so interested in the New Zealand Delphiniums, which I had to order from them. So far this year, I haven't seen one bit of mildew on these. [knock on wood] I still have the rest of July and August to get through though.

I have clay/loam that is about 6.4ph and the pinks are in part sun, facing west and the blue was in just about full sun facing south. I haven't done anything special to them. The bed was prepared with compost and I topdressed with more in the spring. Besides staking them, I have done nothing more to them than any other plant in the yard. I think I might have used some compost tea on them about the time the buds were forming. Their germination rate is low.

Try them again pitimpinai! I know, you will have to find room. [g]

The Pansy is Velour Bronze from Thompson and Morgan. My first time trying them. Yes, they were winter sown this past winter and got in the ground late. I like them, they are very sweet little pansies without the long stems that can sometimes make a mess.

BTW, I have started sunflower seeds three times already. Groundhogs and rabbits got the first two batches and I think I might have a few that they missed, but they are about 10 inches tall. So I don't know if I will get any this year or not. I hope so. If I do I will be sure to post a photo. :-)

Thanks Linda :-)

The calendula that reseeded were grown in a raised vegetable bed last year. So maybe that made a difference? I have tried to get them to reseed before and this was the most success I have had. I had about 10 plants to move this spring. Do you have a raised bed you could try them in?

pm2

Oh, the Nigela is so pretty. I hope to try that next year. The delphiniums are gorgeous too. Those I have but will be planting some seeds soon and my ws seedlings this year are doing great. Can't have too many delphs. Great pictures.
Bonny

Here is a close up of that pansy,pitimpinai...

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Thanks Bonny, :-) Will you be sowing Delphinium seeds this summer or waiting for winter sowing? Have you ever sown Delph seed in the summer before?